An apology to Councilwoman Esther Awesomeheimer; come blog with me

Dear Esther,

Verve magazine recently named you, Asheville City Councilwoman Esther Manheimer (aka Esther Awesomeheimer), the No. 1 “woman to watch” in 2010. Congratulations! That’s a great cover shot of you.

The lovely story about you notes your strong background in politics. If I may quote:

She may be a first-time politician, but she’s no stranger to politics. After law school, she spent four years working as counsel for various committees in the North Carolina General Assembly.

If I may expand: you’ve also been president of the board of the Jewish Community Center; as well as a hard-working member of one of Asheville’s most prestigious law firms, Van Winkle. (I have admit, too, that just like you, squash casserole is one of my favorite foods. 🙂 )

Then the story continues, with a hard turn:

Nor is she new to Asheville. In fact, Manheimer seems to ruffle at the implication. Last year, she did a radio spot with an Asheville blogger who said something like, “‘Well, where have you been? I haven’t seen you around,’” Manheimer recalls. “The person co-hosting with him said, ‘Well, she hasn’t been around where you are.’ And that’s exactly right. … There’s a whole bunch of us in Asheville who have lived here forever and we’re just doing our community thing. We’re not the subjects of blogs.”

Ms. Awesomeheimer, I really must apologize. I did not mean to cast aspersions. It was an offhand comment, and I should have been more careful.

I think I was just trying to say that it’s true – we haven’t been around each other much. I’m grubby west Asheville, and you’re posh north Asheville. You’re board of adjustment, and I’m usually just bored. You’re Jewish. I’m Catholic. You’re smart-girl-glasses, and I’m hippie-long-hair. You’re a high-powered attorney, and I’m a lowly reporter. I’ve been in Asheville since 1970-something, graduated high school here and have lived and worked here for decades, but just because I’ve “lived here forever” like other folks doesn’t mean I should assume that I just know everyone.

Because it’s also true that this whole blog thing may have given me an inflated idea of myself. People throw themselves at the mercy of the mighty Ashvegas. I get e-mail propositions I would never get in real life. And all I have to do is sit at my computer in the dark of night and type away, never having to face a crowd or explain a vote like you.

So please, councilwoman Manheimer, accept my apology. Please don’t sic your wrestler husband on me. And if you ever want to start a blog, or get hooked up on Twitter, or friend me on Facebook, know that I’m there for you.